High School Wrestling: Walled Lake Northern hosts Military Appreciation Night

Army Sargeant First Class Vernetta Lamping (left) and Staff Sargeant Harold Montague of the Michigan National Guard were on hand for Military Appreciation Night at Walled Lake Northern. (The Oakland Press/MARVIN GOODWIN).

COMMERCE TWP. -- A KLAA double dual wrestling meet was on the agenda Wednesday at Walled Lake Northern High School, but the military was front and center during Military Appreciation Night.

Service veterans and retirees were recognized during an evening of patriotism and gratitude for the armed forces.

Staff Sargeant Harold Montague, and Sargeant First Class Vernetta Lamping, both from the Michigan Army National Guard and both neatly dressed in combat fatigues, were interested observers during the evening.

"I'm impressed with the dedication and shape these guys are in," said Montague, who knows something about fitness as an active duty Marine for eight years before joining the National Guard and working with recruiting and retention.

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Lamping, team leader for the Pontiac area, was grateful for the recognition.

"I think it's wonderful that they would take the time to not only honor active duty personnel but retirees as well," she said.

Army Major Jeff Hoose, who has served nearly 25 years as an enlisted solider and a commissioned officer, served as honorary captain for Northern's squad, who were outfitted with Michigan National Guard singlets for the occasion.

The Captains are undefeated at 3-0 in the KLAA North and Kettering coach Brett Hanna is feeling good. "It was a total team effort, everybody stepped up," said Hanna.

But the Captains were feeling the heat against Northern where, after Andrew Hahnenberg (112), Corey Howell (135), Christian Lauderback (140), Noah Holland (145) and Mike Gorman (160) registered victories, the Knights found themselves up 28-12 with five matches remaining.

Gorman had nipped Kettering's Dalton Bedgood, 2-1, in a key match. But Wilson was looking for more with the Captains' strength coming up. "I was thinking we need to steal one more match," said Wilson, who couldn't get it. Kettering's Zach Carter (171) and Tyler James (189) each got bonus-point victories, and Northern's Justin Miller, in the final match, needed to pin Kettering's Cory Conrad at 103 to tie the match. Conrad courageously fought off the pin, and nearly pinned Miller in the third period before succumbing, 7-4.

"There are those subtle things that make a difference," Wilson said. "Our squad wrestled really well ... we're improving every time."

Western squeezed out a victory over Mott as both teams struggle to stay out of the KLAA North cellar.

Marcus Johnson (160), Jack Michalski (171) were among Warriors who earned victories to lead Western.

Mott's Jason Medawar recorded a pair of victories on the night to key the Corsairs.